The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong is considering allowing issuers of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to stake Ethereum, marking a significant development for the cryptocurrency industry. This move contrasts with the stance taken by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which deems staking services to be in violation of securities laws. In response to the potential approval of Ethereum ETFs in the US, major issuers have recently made changes to their proposals, removing staking altogether. Bloomberg reports that the SFC has been evaluating whether Ethereum ETF issuers in Hong Kong should be permitted to engage in staking on ETH. The regulator is said to have been in contact with Hong Kong crypto ETF issuers to discuss the provision of staking services through licensed platforms. However, it is important to note that the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission is currently only in the discussion phase, and there is no fixed schedule for the implementation of this service. In a separate development, the US SEC has requested that exchanges seeking to list Ethereum ETFs update their records, signaling a significant step in the regulation of cryptocurrency ETFs. Joseph Edwards, head of research at Enigma Securities, suggests that this move indicates progress in the regulation of cryptocurrency ETFs, as opposing the approval of an Ethereum ETF after Bitcoin was approved would have raised questions about the status of Ethereum securities more broadly. It is important to note that the views expressed in this article are for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or investment advice. Investing or trading cryptocurrencies carries a risk of financial loss.
